Wednesday, November 5 th Assessment: 1.Assignment 2.Paragraphing Notes 3.Writing Time Assignments: Friday: Read Ind. Reading Novel Narrative Topic: Paragraphing Level: Analyze; Synthesize

On Your Desk: C-Notes Einstein’s Chauffer Handout

NARRATIVE PARAGRAPHING DO WHAT, WHEN?

FUNCTIONS OF A PARAGRAPH 1) PROVIDE A BREAK FROM LONG STRETCHES OF TEXT BOTH IN CONTENT AND IN SPACE ON THE PAGE, AND 2) THEY HELP CLUE THE READER IN TO KEY CHANGES IN YOUR STORY. THE SECOND POINT IS OFTEN SUBTLE AND CAN BE ASSIGNED ALMOST ARBITRARILY IF THE NEED OF THE FIRST POINT MUST BE MET. THIS IS BECAUSE THE RULES ARE NOT HARD AND FAST AND, ULTIMATELY IN FICTION, AN AUTHOR CAN “BREAK” THEM ACCORDING TO THEIR JUDGMENT OF STYLE AND FLAVOR. BEFORE YOU START “BREAKING” RULES, YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT PARAGRAPHS ARE MEANT TO DO. THEY: INTRODUCE SOMETHING NEW DEFINE A SHIFT IN SOMETHING ALREADY THERE MARK A MOVEMENT IN A SEQUENCE

VARYING PARAGRAPH LENGTH VARYING PARAGRAPH LENGTHS IN TEXT PROVIDES DIVERSITY IN THE NARRATIVE THAT ADDS INTEREST FOR THE READER. LONG PARAGRAPHS UNIFY A MORE PONDEROUS AND SERIOUS MOOD IN A READER. INTERSPERSING THESE WITH SHORT PARAGRAPHS WILL BREAK UP THE READER’S TENDENCY FOR COMPLACENT READING AND LIVENS THE NARRATIVE. THE SHORT PARAGRAPHS, BY DEFAULT, PROVIDE AREAS OF EMPHASIS WITHIN A SEA OF LONGER TEXT. THE FICTION WRITER MAY USE THESE TO MAKE A SUBTLE POINT.

USE OF DIALOGUE REVIEW FROM YESTERDAY: GIVE A NEW PARAGRAPH AND INDENTATION WHEN THE SPEAKER SWITCHES YOU DO NOT NEED TO PROVIDE NAMES OF SPEAKER WHEN TWO IDENTIFIED CHARACTERS ARE HAVING A LONG BACK AND FORTH CONVERSATION IF THE NARRATION IS ABOUT THE CHARACTER SPEAKING, THEN YOU MAY LEAVE THAT DIALOGUE IN THAT PARAGRAPH EX: A TALL, DARK FACED MAN ENTERED THE HALL WAY. AS HE BEGAN MAKING LARGE STRIDES TOWARDS ME, HE BEGAN SHAKING HIS FIST AND YELLING, “GET OUT OF HERE, YOU HOOLIGAN!” I THEN ABOUT-FACED TURNED AND RAN FOR MY LIFE.

PARAGRAPH CHECK LIST IS THE PARAGRAPH UNIFIED? IS IT TIED TO ONE GENERAL IDEA OR NARRATIVE DIRECTION? IS THE PARAGRAPH COHERENT? ARE THE SENTENCES LINKED AND DO THEY FOLLOW A CLEAR AND CONSISTENT SEQUENCE? IS THE PARAGRAPH DEVELOPED? IS THERE A LOGICAL BEGINNING AND END THAT “FRAMES” A WHOLE IDEA OR THOUGHT?

ACTIVITY MOVE YOUR DESKS INTO YOUR LMG READ OVER THE SHORT STORY PROVIDED WITH YOUR GROUP. AFTER READING, DETERMINE WHERE PARAGRAPHS ARE NEEDED. ON YOUR PAPER, JUSTIFY WHY IT’S A NEW PARAGRAPH. RE-WRITE THE SHORT STORY WITH CORRECTED PARAGRAPHING ON THE LARGE PAPER PROVIDED. PLEASE BE SURE THE DECORATE THE BORDERS, AND USE COLOR. BE READY TO PRESENT WITH AN EXPLANATION FOR WHY YOU PARAGRAPHED WHEN YOU DID.